234 INORGANIC AGENTS 



heart-beat, depress the spinal motor area, and lessen reflex action. They 

 relieve spasm and may increase the secretion of urine. 



Poisoning. — Fatal poisoning is extremely rare as an accidental occur- 

 rence. Recovery from a quantity 120 times greater than the normal dose 

 of nitroglycerin, has been reported in human practice. The physiological 

 effects of the nitrites are more noticeable in man, owing to his bare skin. 

 Immediately following the inhalation of amyl nitrite, the face becomes 

 extremely flushed, and throbbing of the vessels of the head, with a feeling 

 of tremendous pressure and headache, ensue. These symptoms are due 

 to vascular dilatation. There is dizziness, the heart is rapid and violent, 

 and the pulse full, frequent and easily compressible. The respiratory 

 movements are increased. These symptoms occur after a full medicinal 

 dose. 



In poisoning there is pallor, vomiting in man, trembling, weakness, 

 cyanosis and failure of respiration and heart. The treatment is included 

 in the administration of ammoniacal and alcoholic stimulants, together 

 with the subcutaneous injection of ergotin, strychnine and atropine, to 

 restore the vascular tone. 



The nitrites differ sufficiently to call for a word concerning their 

 individual characteristics. It is important to emphasize the fact that 

 their action, as a whole, is transient. Amyl nitrite diminishes vascular 

 tension, as shown by the sphygmograph, within a minute of its inhalation, 

 and this condition lasts for 2 to 4 minutes, with variations of from 10 to 

 30 minutes. The same action of nitroglycerin occurs within 6 minutes 

 and lasts from half to, rarely, an hour and a half. 



Good spirit of nitrous ether lowers tension from 45 to 60 minutes. 

 In addition to this difference in degree, spirit of nitrous ether differs 

 somewhat in kind of action. It is more stimulant to the heart, and more 

 diuretic, owing to the ether it contains. For the same reason sweet spirit 

 of nitre increases the secretions and motion of the upper part of the 

 digestive tract, relieves spasm and is of some value in indigestion and 

 mild colic. In stimulating the activity of the sweat glands, following its 

 action in dilating peripheral vessels, sweet spirit of nitre is a useful 

 diaphoretic and mild febrifuge. 



It has been pointed out that spiritus etheris nitrosi is far from being 

 a reliable preparation as a nitrite, and therefore nitroglycerin or amyl 

 nitrite is preferable where rapid and certain vascular dilatation is 

 essential. 



Uses of the Nitrites. 



Internal. — Respiratory Diseases. — Spirit of nitrous ether is of serv- 

 ice in the treatment of acute diseases of the respiratory tract, as coryza, 

 pharyngitis, laryngitis and bronchitis. Its value lies in its power of dilat- 

 ing peripheral vessels, equalizing the circulation and preventing local 

 congestions. 



In assisting diaphoresis and diuresis, sweet spirit of nitre hastens 

 elimination of toxins and cools the body; and in both ways is useful in 



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